Circular saw

Abstract

A circular saw including a housing, a motor disposed within the housing, a spindle operable to be rotated by the motor, and a saw blade supported by the spindle for co-rotation therewith. The saw blade includes a hub portion located at a center of the saw blade and a blade portion extending therefrom. The hub portion is offset from the blade portion to define a pocket between the blade portion and the hub portion. The circular saw also includes a fastener securing the saw blade to the spindle. The fastener is at least partially recessed within the pocket.

1 . A circular saw comprising:
 a housing;   a motor disposed within the housing;   a spindle operable to be rotated by the motor;   a saw blade supported by the spindle for co-rotation therewith, the saw blade including a hub portion located at a center of the saw blade and a blade portion extending therefrom, the hub portion being offset from the blade portion to define a pocket between the blade portion and the hub portion; and   a fastener securing the saw blade to the spindle, the fastener being at least partially recessed within the pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The circular saw of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is configured as a bolt threaded to the spindle, and wherein the bolt includes a head recessed within the pocket. 
     
     
         3 . The circular saw of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is configured as a nut threaded to the spindle, and wherein the nut is recessed within the pocket. 
     
     
         4 . The circular saw of  claim 1 , wherein the spindle defines a bore to receive the fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The circular saw of  claim 1 , further comprising an arbor assembly to secure the saw blade to the spindle, the arbor assembly including the fastener, an inner flange positioned between the motor and the saw blade, and an outer flange positioned within the pocket. 
     
     
         6 . The circular saw of  claim 1 , wherein the saw blade is a first saw blade and the circular saw further includes a second saw blade, the second saw blade configured to be alternately coupled to the spindle for co-rotation therewith, the second saw blade including a second hub portion located at a center of the second saw blade connectable to the spindle and a second blade portion, the second hub portion being co-planar with the second blade portion. 
     
     
         7 . A circular saw comprising:
 a base;   a housing supported by the base;   a motor disposed within the housing;   a blade guard coupled to the base; and   a blade cover on a side of the blade guard opposite the housing, the blade cover and the base defining an opening therebetween through which a saw blade can extend;   wherein the opening has a width of at least 10 millimeters.   
     
     
         8 . The circular saw of  claim 7 , wherein the width of the opening is at least 12 millimeters. 
     
     
         9 . The circular saw of  claim 7 , wherein the width of the opening is at least 15 millimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The circular saw of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a spindle operable to be rotated by the motor;   a first a saw blade configured to be coupled to the spindle for co-rotation therewith, the first saw blade including a first hub portion located at a center of the first saw blade connectable to the spindle and a first blade portion extending therefrom and through the opening, the first hub portion being offset from the first blade portion to define a pocket between the first blade portion and the first hub portion; and   a second saw blade configured to be alternately coupled to the spindle for co-rotation therewith, the second saw blade including a second hub portion located at a center of the second saw blade connectable to the spindle and a second blade portion extending therefrom and through the opening, the second hub portion being co-planar with the second blade portion,   wherein a first distance between the blade cover and the first blade portion, when the first saw blade is coupled to the spindle for co-rotation therewith, is less than a second distance between the blade cover and the second blade portion when the second saw blade is alternately coupled to the spindle for co-rotation therewith.   
     
     
         11 . A circular saw comprising:
 a housing;   a motor disposed within the housing, the motor defining a motor outer diameter;   a base upon which the housing is supported, the base defining a workpiece contact surface along which a workpiece is slidable in a sliding direction, a top surface opposite the workpiece contact surface, a front end perpendicular to the sliding direction, and an opposite rear end perpendicular to the sliding direction, the base defining a length between the front end and the rear end;   a spindle operable to be rotated by the motor;   a saw blade supported by the spindle for co-rotation therewith about a rotational axis; and   a pivot joint proximate the rear end of the base, the pivot joint pivotably coupling the housing to the base about a pivot axis that is parallel with the rotational axis, permitting the saw blade to plunge into the workpiece in response to the housing being pivoted about the pivot axis toward the base,   wherein an outer diameter of the saw blade is 6 inches or less.   
     
     
         12 . The circular saw of  claim 11 , wherein a ratio of the length of the base to the saw blade outer diameter is between 1.2 and 1.75. 
     
     
         13 . The circular saw of  claim 12 , wherein the length of the base is 6.5 inches, and wherein the saw blade outer diameter is 4.5 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The circular saw of  claim 11 , wherein a ratio between the saw blade outer diameter and the motor outer diameter is between 1.5 and 2. 
     
     
         15 . The circular saw of  claim 14 , wherein the saw blade outer diameter is 4.5 inches, and wherein the motor outer diameter is 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The circular saw of  claim 11 , wherein the housing defines a battery receptacle operable to receive a battery pack. 
     
     
         17 . The circular saw of  claim 16 , wherein when the battery pack is received by the battery receptacle, a bottom surface of the battery pack defines a clearance with the workpiece contact surface of 0.25 inches or less. 
     
     
         18 . The circular saw of  claim 16 , wherein the battery pack is positioned closer to the front end of the base than the rear end. 
     
     
         19 . The circular saw of  claim 11 , wherein the battery pack includes a bottom that is approximately co-planar with the top surface of the base when the battery pack is received by the battery receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . The circular saw of  claim 11 , wherein a spring biases the housing away from the base. 
     
     
         21 .- 31 . (canceled)